Foldable toy monoplane



Jan. 26, 1932. c. u. TYRRELL 1,842,434

FQLDABLE TOY MONOPLANE Filed July 1, 1930 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Jan. 26, 1932 mum: u. mm, or nos momma, canmoama ronmmm rot uonormum Application filed July 1,

This invention relates to improvements in foldable flying toys adapted to be pro ected by a catapult or other means.

The prime object of my invention broadly stated, is to produce a foldable flying toy so formed from a suitable material, as, for example, sheets of cardboard or quite stiflr' paper or wood, that in outline, especlally in-midair itquite closely simulates the appearance of the wing, chassis and rudder of a real plane.

More specifically stated, the object of my invention is a flying toy closely imitating in outline the wing, chassis and rudder of a real plane, the construction-of which is such that the wings may be folded back against the body for storage and propulsion and will be urged into open position, so that followin the ropulsion of this toy plane in its'folded con ition to the limit ofits upward movement in the air, the folded wings are automatically spread apart and the toy glides.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective means ada ting a plane of the construction above descrlbed to be propelled in its folded condition upwardly in the air by means of a catapult, or downwardly by hand from an elevation.

With these ends in view, my invention finds embodiment in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said objects are attained, all as hereinafter fully described with reference to the accom anying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable monoplane flying toy in which my invention finds its embodiment with the wings in folded position for propulsion; Fig. 2 is a per.- spective view of a catapult for propelling the toy; Fig, 3 is a perspective view of the monoplane in its open position for gliding; Fig. 4 is a section as seen on the line 44 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fra ment of the toy showing the wings partial y open and disclosing the joint between body and wings.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, the body of the toy comprises a rod 6,

g 'tal fin 10. This section 1980. Serial No. 465,096.

preferably made of woodor some lightwei ht material. A ferrule 7 of rubber or any ot er suitable material is mounted on the red at the head end. This ferrule serves primarily as a balancing weight and also acts as an impact head. A slit is formed in the rod to receive a triangular member 8 which may be made of stiff cardboard and serve as a catapult catch. The empennage consisting of stabilizing planes is mounted at the tail end and comfrises duplicate vertical fins 9 which are pre erably made of cardboard and may be formed of a single sheet folded upon itself with the creased portion enclosed in a slit in the rod. At the outer end heads 9-a are providedto be passed through slits in a horizonprovides for easy assemblage of the arts and for packing of the folded toy. The assemblage just described forms a fuselage body. Y

The wings are secured to the body intermediate the ends of the latter.. A pleat hinge is provided consisting of two leaves 11, preferably made of flexible fabric or paper. The mid crease 11 a is disposed in a slit in the rod and the ends of the leaves are secured to wings 12 to form joints 11--b extending diagonally along the wings. The wings 12 may be made of balsa wood or any other suitable light weight material and are hinged togather at the center as indicated by 13. The pleat hinge forms a feathering hinge, such that the wings may be folded to lie laterally against the body as indicated in Fig. 1. In spread gliding position, the wings are shown 35 in Fig- 3, and will have been turned through an angle of ninety degrees. In spread position, the leaves 11 of the pleat hinge are extended to lie flat against the wings. Reinforcing strips 14 are shown on the wings at the joint 13. On the upper side of the wings are hooks 15 adapted to receive an elastic band 16 which is of such length that the band will be under tension when the wings are folded as shown in Fig. 1 so that the wings are urged into spread position as shown in Fi s. 3 and 4.

catapult is shown in Fig. 2 for projecting the toy. This consists and an elastic band 18.

of rlgid stem 17 mo elongated body, wings 'nally of said body,

7 upon the vertical fins and t e band 16 mounted onhe lNiIOkS. Th%' folcied Th 12 a OS]. 1011 s own m 1g. e

116121 to open out into spread position. l hey are held together at..the rear b the ers of one hand of the operator, an the ban 18 of the catapult is looped over the catch 8 on the body. Band 18 is then stretched and the toy released so that it' will be projected upwardly. The inertia of the wings d the an pressure of the air tend to hold the win in folded position.

As the toy loses spee the band 16 gradually opens the wings to g 'ding position shown in Fig. 3. Thereupon, the plane glides to the ground.

It is obvious that I have provided a toy economical of construction, simple and few in parts, easy of manipulation and which toy is then in prising a rod like body, wings jointed to each other, a flexible leaf hinge securing said win to feat ered from a s read gliding position outstanding from sai body to a closed position laterall lying against and ranging longitudinal y of said body, hooks disposedon opposite sides of the wings'oint, an elastic band assed over said hoo urging said wings m closed to spread position a slit in said rod a catapult catch disposed in said slit, said hinge having an intermediate crease forming a omt disposed in a slit in said rod and leaves "secured to said wings by joints converging toward said crease.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of June, 1930.

U. TYRRELL.

will afford entertainment. It is compact I when folded and may be packed in 9. sm space. The parts subject to wear and breakage are easy of repair and the materials for such repair are easily available.

What I claim is 1. A foldable flying toy comprising an jointed to each other, a pleat hinge securing said wings to the body to enable the wings to be feathered from a spread gliding position outstanding from said body to a closed position laterally lying against and ranging longitudinally of said body, said hinge comprising a pair of leaves attached at the intermediate joint line to said body and attached at their outer ends to the wings along joint lines converging toward the intermediate joint line, hooks disposed on said wing and an elastic band passed over said hooks urging said wings from closed to spread position.

2. A foldable aeroplane flying toy comprising an elongated body, wings jointed to each other, a pleat hinge securingsaidwings to the body to enable the wings to be feathered from a spread gliding posltion outstand-' ing from said body to a closed position laterally lying against and ranging longitudisaid hinge comprising a air of leaves attached at the intermediate joint line to said body and attached at their outer ends to the wings along joint lines conv'er g toward the intermediate 'oint line, hop s disposed on opposite sides 0% the wing joint, an elastic band passed over said hooks urging said wings from closed to spread position, and a catch for a catapult depending from said body. I

3. A .foldable aeroplane flying toy comthe body to enable the wings to be 

